WALESKA, Ga.- The Ave Maria University football faced a stiff test on Saturday afternoon, and were defeated 49-3 by the Reinhardt University Eagles, who were ranked seventh in the newest NAIA Coaches' Poll. The game was Ave Maria's final contest outside of the Mid South Conference's Sun Division.

Reinhardt never trailed in the contest, scoring on a ten-play, 72 yard drive to start the game. The drive was capped off by a ten yard touchdown run from Montralius Mosely. The Eagles also scored in the final minutes of the first quarter, as Billy Hall scored from 35 yards out to give Reinhardt a 14-0 lead after the first 15 minutes.

The Eagles added three more touchdowns in the second quarter, all coming on the ground. M'Calun Lanier scored on runs of 38 and 45 yards, while Mosely scored his second touchdown of the day from 15 yards out. Reinhardt scored touchdowns on five of their first seven possessions of the game, with a first quarter fumble and a second quarter turnover on downs the only blemishes.

To open the second half, Ave Maria put together a 13 play, 61 yard drive to get on the board. During the drive, the Gyrenes converted on two third downs and a fourth down, extending the drive with a 10-yard pass from Will Tate to Dimitrius Hirsch on a fourth and six. Eventually, Devyn McCormick made a 28-yard field goal to account for AMU's only points of the day. 

Reinhardt concluded the scoring with a 13 yard touchdown run from Qua Stokes in the third quarter, and a 36 yard punt return in the final three minutes of the game from Brian Tillery. In total, Reinhardt accounted for 533 yards of offense, including 382 on the ground. The Eagles averaged more than seven yards per play in the victory.

Hirsch was Ave Maria's top offensive weapon on the day, recording five receptions for 49 yards. Sterling Curran led the Gyrene defense with eleven tackles, including five solo stops and a half sack. In addition to his field goal, McCormick punted eight times for 295 yards, including a long punt of 44 yards.

Ave Maria enters divisional play next Saturday, with No. 24 Faulkner first on the schedule. Kickoff between the Gyrenes and Eagles is scheduled for noon at Gyrene Field.